Archived
Blaze destroys Bethel home
Firefighters believe a malfunctioning kerosene heater ignited a fire late Wednesday morning that left a Bethel couple homeless and destroyed all their possessions. The home of L. Dean and Martha J. Ward, at 455 Lower Rush Branch Road, was a complete loss, according to Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department chief Floyd Hicks. He said Martha Ward reported that the furnace caught fire as she adjusted the thermostat just before 11 a.m. Sonny Sweet, director of the Watauga Chapter of the American Red Cross, described the home as a converted trailer the Wards had placed on the same plot of land 37 years before. Sweet said financial contributions could be directed through his office to help the Wards, whose home was uninsured. Photo by Jerry Sena |
Dangerous but not as deadly; Watauga crash rate drives high
Watauga County was the sixth mostly likely place in the state to have a vehicle crash in 2005, but its crashes were the 39th most deadly, according to highway safety figures released last month by AAA Carolinas. Read more.
Just what is a ‘March for March’ anyway?
It’s a fine month for a parade. This March, the Daylight Brigade presents the Third Annual March for March, a parade that celebrates the common, uncommon and creative man and woman. Come March 24, King Street will witness such a celebration, a nonpolitical event with unity and diversity as the main stars. Read more.
Sheriff reports
Jan. 22 — David Edwin Waln, 53, of 2183 U.S. 421 N, Boone, was served with an order for arrest and charged with driving while impaired. His bond was set at $5,000 and a Superior Court date scheduled for March. Read more.
Library Journal checks out Cornette
Jackie Cornette, Western Watauga Branch Library supervisor was selected by Library Journal as the Paraprofessional of the Year, a very prestigious title. As supervisor of the branch library, which is located in the Western Watauga Community Center in Sugar Grove, Cornette runs the outreach program as well as the branch facility. Read more.
Forum asks: Where is affordable housing?
The following is part two of a two-part series on affordable housing in Watauga County.
A joint meeting of the Boone and Watauga County planning commissions yielded discussion among local officials of one of the area’s highest priorities: affordable housing. Though a high priority, the presence of affordable housing is particularly low in the county. With such projects dependent on water and sewer, applicants must also face the town of Boone’s strict water policy, while the town continues to search for an additional water source for its growing population. Read more.
JANUARY 31, 2007
Air Megg
Taking advantage of frigid temperatures and a no-school snow day, Watauga High School freshman Megg Grubbs hits the box as she snowboards Appalachian Ski Mountain’s Terrain Park on Monday. Local schools were back in session on Tuesday with a two-hour delay. Photo by Marie Freeman |
New house costs jump once again
The value of newly constructed single-family homes cracked the nine-figure mark for the first time in 2006, with overall new residential construction value jumping about 18 percent last year. Read more.
Wanted: Affordable housing
The following is part one of a two-part series on affordable housing in Watauga County. A joint meeting of the Boone Area Planning Commission and Watauga County Planning Board saw the topic of affordable housing brought to the forefront. Other local officials and community members attended, creating a forum-like atmosphere for the exchange of ideas and discussion. Scott Eggers, member of the Watauga Housing Opportunities Group, mediated the meeting. Read more.
Gail Fannon takes on new role with DWI court
It’s 11 a.m. at the Watauga County Courthouse and Gail Fannon is hosting a small gathering of some 80 guests. It’s a captive audience by definition, as none is there by choice. They’ve been selected for various reasons by local law enforcement officers who suspected they might be driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of one judgment-impairing substance or another. Read more.
Tax ratio: John Locke Foundation ranks Watauga 18th of 100
An annual report measuring local tax burdens shows that Watauga County rose a few notches in state rankings, with the per capita tax burden now ranking 18th among 100 counties. Read more.
Speaking of community appearance
The Boone Community Appearance Commission discussed changes to the preliminary drafting of the hillside design guidelines at its Jan. 25 meeting. The draft, prepared by urban design specialist Brian Johnson, is a comprehensive checklist for people who wish to build in areas that lie in the view-shed protection district. Read more.
JANUARY 29, 2007
Ice on the Rock
Professional ice sculptor Michael Kowalski of Wilmington uses a power tool to help chisel details in an ice serpent he created at the Blowing Rock Winterfest on Saturday.
Photo by Marie Freeman |
For affordable housing: Local waiting list lengthens
While “affordable housing” has often come to be equated with the difficulty in purchasing a house in Watauga County, that shortage creates a logjam that backs up the entire chain of housing. Read more.
Local court moves through busy Thursday session
A Zionville man was arraigned Thursday on charges he mutilated the genitals of a disabled man under his care at a Deep Gap group care home last May. Read more.
Roby Greene residents fear road is getting increasingly dangerous
Winter brings with it a series of hard freezes, but the time in between them has proven especially slippery for residents of Roby Greene Road just east of Boone. Read more.
Boone taps into new water conservation methods
While most New Year’s resolutions revolve around losing weight and quitting smoking, the town of Boone is offering another alternative: conserving water. Read more.
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